Friday, August 11, 2006

The state's largest gay rights group has condemned an incident early Fridaywhere a block was hurled through the window of the Lakeway Hotel in Meade, Kan.

A red block with the message "fag" was thrown through the window of the Lakeway Hotel sometime before 5. A second block with the message "get the fuck out of town" was found outside of the building where it apparently bounced after failing to hit a window. Both of the messages were inked onto the blocks in what appears to be black marker. Police are investigating.

The Equality Coalition news release said:

"Violence and intimidation are always wrong," said Thomas Witt, chair of the Equality Coalition. "We know that our fellow Kansans are fair-minded people whowill stand up and reject acts of hatred and intolerance against their neighbors."

"Rural Kansas has always been known for its 'live and let live' attitude," she said "These are isolated acts by a few people who don't represent the vast majority of our neighbors and friends. However, this kind of harassment will continue until the good people of the state stand up for their neighbors."

The Kansas Equality Coalition is a unified, statewide, nonpartisan coalition of people who work to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Equality Coalition works to ensure the dignity, safety and legal equality of all Kansans. Established in 2005 and with seven chapters throughout the state, the Equality Coalition includes members who are straight lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered and from all walks of life.

In the interest of full disclosure: I am a former vice chair of the Equality Coalition and helped write this release. However, this blog is my personal blog and, except in this case and where otherwise noted, In This Moment does NOT represent the views of the Equality Coalition.